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Tall tales and true come to Balingup

Tari JeffersManjimup-Bridgetown Times
Florence Jawney, 6, of Carine, meets the Lion as part of Telling Tales festivities at the weekend.
Camera IconFlorence Jawney, 6, of Carine, meets the Lion as part of Telling Tales festivities at the weekend. Credit: Brian Vanallen

More than 300 families from across WA descended on Balingup at the weekend for the 8th annual Telling Tales in Balingup event.

The event included children’s storytelling sessions and workshops with WA authors and illustrators, including Gabriel Evans, Cristy Burne and Josh Langley.

Highlights included a storybook parade including well-known characters such as the King and Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, Captain Hook and Mary with a real life lamb.

Florence Jawney, 6, of Carine, meets the Lion as part of Telling Tales festivities at the weekend.
Camera IconFlorence Jawney, 6, of Carine, meets the Lion as part of Telling Tales festivities at the weekend. Credit: Brian Vanallen

The Balingup Town Hall was a hive of activities with workshops in creative writing, kite-making and book binding.

Local story-tellers set up in venues across town to treat children to readings of beloved authors such as Roald Dahl and Dr Seuss.

A popular addition at this year’s festival was a songwriting session with Mary and Sarah Evans.

Event co-organiser Helen Christensen said the “quirky” storybook scarecrow characters throughout town added to the vibrancy of the event.

“We’re thrilled with the response and next year’s event will include a filmmaking workshop,” she said.

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